Holder device for service records for a machine



Sept. 16, 1969 S- C. BORRESEN HOLDER DEVICE FOR SERVICE RECORDS FOR A MACHINE Filed June 8. 1967 INVENTOR. 21 81/5 61' Bqzezssw United States Patent 3,466,774 HOLDER DEVICE FOR SERVICE RECORDS FOR A MACHINE Sven C. Borresen, Tyler, Minn. 56178 Filed June 8, 1967, Ser. No. 644,611 Int. Cl. G09f 3/20, 1/10, 7/18 US. Cl. 40-10 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder device attachable to a machine and containing service records for the machine. The holder device comprised of a transparent front panel and a rear panel heat sealed together along three edge portions thereof and a closure fastener for closing the unsealed edges. A narrow pocket defined between the panels for containing a pencil and releasable mounting means on the rear panel for mounting the holder device on a machine, such as a tractor, to prominently display the service records to a user.

This invention relates to a holder device attachable to a machine which contains service records for the machine.

An object of this invention is to provide a holder device, of simple and inexpensive construction, which contains service records for a machine, with provision for ready mounting of the holder device on a convenient part of the machine, the holder device having a transparent front panel whereby a user may readily determine when the machine needs additional servicing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a holder device of the class described, which has a waterproof and dustproof space in which the service records are disposed with provision for a pressure-type closure fastener to permit ready access to the interior of the holder device, and means for detachably mounting the device on a machine, thus permitting the holder device to be removed from the machine, and the records removed therefrom so that enttries may be made on the latter.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a tractor with a novel holder device mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the holder device;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof on a reduced scale;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 44 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating a modified mounting means.

Referring now to the drawing, and more specifically to FIG. 2, it will be seen that one embodiment of the novel holder device, designated generally by the reference numeral is there shown. This holder device 10 includes a front panel 11 and a rear panel 12, which are of the same size and the same rectangular configuration. These panels are formed of a water impervious, flexible, thermoplastic material, preferably polypropylene, and as shown, the front panel is transparent, while the rear panel may be transparent or opaque as desired.

The front and rear panels are sealingly secured together at their upper peripheral edges by a heat weld 13. It will be noted, that the weld 13 does not extend completely throughout the longitudinal extents of these adjacent peripheral edges but does extend throughout the major portions thereof. The peripheral edge portions of the front ICC and rear panels are sealingly secured together at one end thereof by an end weld 14, and are sealingly secured together at their respective other ends by an end weld 15. It will be noted that the welds 14 and 15 extend between the longitudinal edges of the front and rear panels and form a complete seal at the ends, so that a receiving space 16 is defined therebetween. This receiving space is adapted to contain a plurality of small rectangular service records 17 therein, which have blank entry spaces thereon associated with services to be performed on the particular machine. The service record cards 17 will be disposed, as shown, in stacked relation, so that as each card is completed, the card may be removed so that a fresh incomplete record card is positioned foremost.

The front and rear panels are also sealingly secured together between their longitudinal edges by a weld 18 which is disposed adjacent but spaced from the weld 15 to thereby define an elongate pocket or recess 19. It will be noted, that the pocket or recess 19 has one end thereof open, while the other end thereof is closed by a heat seal weld 20. This pocket is of a size to very snugly accommodate a pencil P therein.

Means are also provided for selectively opening and closing the holder device 10 to permit access to the receiving space 16. It will be noted, that since the receiving space 16 is defined by welds 13, 14 and 18, the remaining side of the holder device is left unsealed and constitutes the access opening to the receiving space 16. These unsealed adjacent longitudinal edges are closed by a pressuretype closure fastener 21, comprised of a closure fastener element 22 and a closure fastener element 23. These closure fastener elements are of elongate generally rectangular configuration and each is secured to the adjacent longitudinal edge of the associated panel. The closure fastener elements are of well known construction, each including a plurality of alternate ridges 24 and grooves 25, which extend throughout the respective lengths of the closure fastener elements. These ridges and grooves on these closure fastener elements are adapted to interlock with each other in a well known manner when the closure fastener elements are pressed against each other throughout their respective lengths. Thus, it will be seen, that the closure fastener 21 serves to close the unsealed edges of the front and rear panels in sealing relation to thereby prevent the entrance of moisture or dust into the receiving space 16. The closure fastener elements may be readily unlocked from each other by merely pulling the closure fastener elements apart.

Means are also provided for detachably mounting the holder device on some convenient part of a machine, which requires periodic servicing. This mounting means designated by the reference numeral 26, includes a mounting element 27, which is formed of a yieldable, flexible, plastic material and is comprised of a plurality of small loops, which project outwardly from a sheet of material. A second mounting element 28 formed of similar plastic mate rial, also includes a sheet having a plurality of small hooks material and is comprised of a plurality of small loops, of the mounting element 27, when these mounting elements are pressed into engagement with each other. This type of mounting or fastening means is well known in the art, and each of the mounting elements is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive backing so that one of the mounting elements may be secured to the rear panel 12 of the holder device and the other mounting element may be secured to some convenient portion of a machine. In the embodiment shown, a pair of the mounting elements 27 are secured to the rear panel 12 and a pair of the mounting element 28 are secured to a convenient portion of a tractor T, so that the holder device may be readily seen by a user.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that a slightly modified form of the mounting means is there shown, and includes a small magnet 29, which is embedded or encapsulated in the rear panel 12. It will be readily appreci ated that when the rear panel is moved into close proximity to the desired mounting location on the tractor or other machine to which the holder device is to be attached, the encased or encapsulated magnet will hold the holder in the selected position.

In use, a plurality of service record cards or sheets will be placed into the receiving space 16 so that the front of the service card is positioned adjacent the transparent front panel 11. The cards will include suitable data relating to servicing, such as the date the service was performed, the engine hours and the particular service that has been performed. Such service data would include entry spaces for checking off the completion of the specific component part serviced, such as change of the engine oil, air filter, engine oil filter inspection, fuel filter first stage, etc.

The various checkoif in the appropriate indicia spaces will be made when the service is performed and the record will be reinserted into the holder device. To this end, the holder device may be readly removed from mounted relation on the machine, such as a tractor, the closure fastener opened, the records removed and entries made with a minimum of effort. Thus, the servicing of a tractor will be readily indicated to the user by the records which will be in ready view of the tractor operator. The holder is both moisture and dustproof and thus permits the records to be easily read by a user without removal of the records from the holder. The provision of the pencil receiving pocket as an element of the holder facilitates a user making the required entries.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a novel holder device, which may be readily attached to any machine or engine that requires servicing, such as change of oil, lubrication and the like. The holder device is especially ideal for use with tractors, and other powered farm equipment and implements, as well as lawnmowers, outboard motors, and the like. The holder device may also be readily applied to stationary industrial machines that require periodic checking.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a novel holder device, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one which functions in a more eificient manner than any heretofore known comparable device.

It will, of course, be understod that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A holder device attachable to a machine, such as a tractor and containing service records for the machine, said holder device comprising:

substantially rectangular front and rear panels formed of a flexible yieldable Water impervious thermoplastic material, said front panel being transparent, said panels being welded together along three side edge portions thereof so that a receptacle is defined between said panels for containing service records therein,

an elongate pressure closure fastener including a pair of cooperating releasable closure elements secured to each of the unwelded side edges of said panels throughout their respective lengths thereof to permit the interior of the receptacle to be sealed in water tight relation from the exterior,

said panels being welded together along a line extending from one edge thereof to the opposite edge thereof, said last mentioned weld being adjacent to but spaced inwardly of and substantially parallel to the weld securing a pair of adjacent side edge portions of the panels together to thereby define a relatively narrow elongate pocket, a transverse weld securing said panels together at one end of said pocket to close said one end, the other end of said pocket being open and of a size to snugly accommodate a pencil therein, the open end of said pocket being oppositely related with respect to the unwelded side edges of said panels, and means for releasably attaching said holder device on a machine to present the front panel outwardly, said means including an attachment element on said back panel being readily engageable with and readily releasably from the surface of the machine.

2. The holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises an attachment element on said back panel and an attachment element attachable to the machine, one of said elements having a plurality of loops and the other of said elements having a plurality of hooks for releasably engaging each other.

3. The holder device as defined in claim 1 wherein said attachment element comprises a magnet embedded in said rear panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,683,645 9/1928 Abbey.

2,544,618 3/1951 Smith 40-10 2,780,261 2/1957 Svec et a1 -3 3,094,330 6/1963 Smith.

3,237,327 3/1966 Griggs 40-10 3,181,583 5/1965 Lingenfelter 150-3 FOREIGN PATENTS 744,902 2/ 1956 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 40-129, 159 

